Capture High-Quality Audio Anywhere - And Control Your DAW at Home

Do all your recording in the box with the Zoom R8 multitracker, and tap in to even more recording options when you connect it to a computer! This portable SD recorder and controller packs a real punch for mobile musicians -- since it's a recorder, audio interface, controller, and sampler in one. You get two channels of simultaneous recordings and eight channels of playback, with a 2x2 audio interface, a powerful effects engine, an onboard looper, and more. It even has high-quality microphones built in, eliminating the need to tote your own mics and cables to your recording location. But if you insist on using your own, the Zoom R8 can accommodate any mic type, condensers included, with its combination XLR-1/4-inch jacks. Because Zoom's battery/USB bus-powered R8 uses SDHC/SD memory cards for storage, you can record and transfer over a hundred hours of track recording, all on the go. The R8 is your best bet as a studio outside the studio. Capture high-quality audio anywhere!

Check out this video from Zoom highlighting the versatile R8.

Powerful, Portable Recording Buddy

If you just want to plug and play, you'll like the R8. On the R8, you can field record, make a quick demo, and capture a live show with two channels of simultaneous recording, both capable of running on 48V phantom power, in your choice of resolution: 96/48/44.1 kHz at 16-bit or 24-bit quality. The R8 also offers eight playback channels for monitoring and blending your recording. To increase your channel count, sync two R8 units via USB for a total of four tracks of simultaneous recording.

Two balanced XLR-1/4" inputs give you the option of using your own microphones to record with the R8. But if you really must grab and go, the R8 features high-sensitivity stereo microphones that fit the bill for live recording.

The R8 conveniently records to SDHC/SD cards, which can be easily swapped out, stored, and backed-up on USB memory sticks and other memory devices. Pop in a 32 GB card for up to 100 hours of track recording! The R8 comes standard with a 2 GB card, so you can start recording right away.

Compact Audio Interface and DAW Controller

Designed to be portable, ultra light, and super easy to use, the R8 is your one-stop recording station that just so happens to double as a 2-channel, 96 kHz/24-bit audio interface. When connected to a Mac or PC via USB, the R8 can also serve as a handy hardware controller for any standard DAW software. The R8 comes with Steinberg Cubase LE. Dedicated controls make it easy to adjust the blends and balances when mixing down your latest recording in your digital audio workstation.

It's a Sampler/Looper Workstation, Too

As with Zoom's other R Series recorders, the R8 can easily loop audio data, enabling you to sample and loop tracks on the fly. Want to make beats? That's easy to do on the R8, too -- the portable recorder sports touch-sensitive drum pads with 10 different kit sound models, which you can use to build and store over 500 of your own drum patterns. If you're crunched for time, you can get your beats from the R8's 500 MB of preprogrammed drum loops from Big Fish Audio.

In designing the R8, Zoom really did think of everything: the R8 also comes with a built-in tuner and metronome. Stay on the beat and stay in tune, no matter what or where you record.

Loaded with DSP Effects

When it's time to sweeten your tracks, turn to the R8's loaded effects engine equipped with more than 146 types of DSP effects and 370 patches. As a bonus, the R8 includes 18 guitar amp models and 6 bass amp models, plus 7 insert modules, each with their own effects for guitars, basses, vocals, and other instruments and special sounds. Have a blast using one insert effect and two send-return effects simultaneously.

Product Description

The Zoom R8 Multitrack SD Recorder Controller and Interface is everything you need to start recording today! Zoom takes the turbocharged design of the R24 and reduces the footprint for a portable, powerful music production solution. Like its predecessor, the Zoom R8 combines four production tools in one incredibly versatile device. In addition to being a multitrack recorder with 8-track playback and 2-track simultaneous recording using SD memory cards, the R8 is an audio interface, a control surface and a pad sampler.

The R8's sampler function consists of 24 built-in voices that can be triggered using 8 pads and 3 bank keys to assign sounds to each track and create loops. Also, you can use the unit's drum machine and the 1.5GB of included rhythm patterns to create original backing beats, or simply output a metronome for tempo control. More than ever before, you have all the tools necessary to create high-quality recordings anywhere.

The Zoom R8 comes with a 2GB SD card and supports up to 32GB SDHC cards for a maximum of 100 track hours. Using SD media for recording not only makes the R8 lighter and more portable, it also ensures increased reliability with no concern for a crashing hard drive.

Take your Zoom R8 into your studio and record additional tracks using its USB audio interface. Then when you're ready to mix, use the Zoom R8's control surface capabilities to manage each function of your favorite DAW software. Incorporate any of the150+ DSP effects to enhance your recording and use the pro-quality mastering effects to complete that studio sound.

With the Zoom R8, versatility, control and comprehensive features come together in a single device that fits in a guitar case and makes on-the-go multitracking a breeze.

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
"Everything you need in a portable digital recorder - the Zoom R8"

Sound:
The Zoom R8 Digital Recorder is great for recording directly into the unit. Its modeled amps are excellent sounding for guitar rhythms and bass parts. The R8 allows you to choose your frequencies for all channels, so you can really push some low-end frequencies on bass guitar if you want. You can also pan your instruments at any degree right or left. The drum loops are very good, too. The loops allow you to change your beats per minute without effecting the drum set's pitch. For guitar solos, however, I mic my guitar amp, which sounds much less compressed than the R8's modeled amps. Once you get your ideas down, you can either master your tunes in the R8, or you can download into a computer program via USB for final mixing. For playback, I am using 25-watt Tascam reference speakers. You might need to purchase an 1/8" to 1/4" jack to attach to your speakers (Radio Shack has them). Once you get the hang of the R8 (you will need to read the manual), it is fast and easy to get your songs recorded. I got my money's worth! Very happy with this recording tool.
Ease of Use:
It is very easy to get a great sounding product from R8, assuming you have good reference speakers for playback. I am using 25-watt Tascam stereo speakers. The R8 offers great sounding modeled amps for guitar and bass. The drum loops in it sound very good for the money. And, the R8 offers a very wide range of great sounding reverbs, digital delays, etc. for the modeled amps and vocals.
Quality:
I have only had this product for a month, so I cannot tell you how durable it is at this point. I would replace it in a heart beat if it broke @ only $300. Great value for the money.
Value:
You get everything you need to make great recordings for your $300. All you will need in addition to the Zoom R8 are powered reference speakers, an 1/8" to 1/4", and a low-impedence XLR mic cable.
Manufacturer Support:
I sent an email to Zoom's tech support asking them a question about the drum loops. I still have not heard back from them, but I was able to figure out what I needed. This is my only concern at this point.

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
"The Zoom R8 is a good unit to consider if you want to do some "On-The-Spot" recording or song creation. The R8 packs plenty of"

Sound:
The Zoom R8 has very good sound quality when it comes to recording and playing the on-board drums. I haven't spent a lot of time with the R8 since I just got it a few weeks ago so I'm being conservative with the rating.
Feature:
The features in the R8 seem to be very useful. The on-board reverb, EQ and other effects seem to work with my music flow. The multi-input jacks for XLR and 1/4 inch connections (along with Phantom Power) prove very useful as well.
Ease of Use:
It was very easy to get up & going with the R8. I was able to create a project & lay down a few tracks without reading the owners manual. If you're use to traditional analog recorders like Tascam and others, getting around on the R8 should be a breeze. Now when you get into the sequencer and other functions, you will have to consult the owners manual (at least I did).
Quality:
The R8 seems to be pretty reliable in its hardware. The unit feels pretty solid although don't expect the faders to feel like anything that's on a studio console.
Value:
I was pretty close to purchasing the Tascam DP-008 but I came across the R8 at the last moment. When I started to compare the features & functionality between the Tascam DP-008 & the Zoom R8, The Zoom R8 won hands down. The R8 seems to give you more features in the unit and the price was pretty close to the other Tascam unit I was considering.
Manufacturer Support:
I'm not rating the company yet because I have not had any reason to contact them.
The Wow Factor:
Well I own the unit already. The Zoom R8 fits my needs that I have for it. I could continue to make decent quality music without this unit, but the R8 gives me the ability to take advantage of it's abilities
Overall:
I think this unit will continue to get use in the upcoming days & month's, although as a musician who loves "Stuff", this unit will share room with many other gadgets & toys.

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